Outlook 2000 - Suspected System Corruption

[MagGyver]

Hi all,

I have a client running XP Home and Office 2000, using Outlook 2000 SP3 for
2 POP accounts in Corporate/Workgroup mode. Somehow in the last few days
something has gone wrong and although I've uninstalled, repaired, and
tweaked this installation, I've come up with no resolution. Details below -
any assistance/feedback would be appreciated.

Client has 1 POP account configured to leave messages on server, deleting
after 10 days. This system has worked fine up until a few days ago when it
started downloading all 600+ messages again as duplicates. No settings had
been changed. A message appeared that another recently installed program was
affecting Outlook (and any other email-enabled programs) and offered to try
and fix the problem. After the repair a related message said that it was
unable to repair and and suggested restarting computer. After restarting,
Outlook continued with error message. (No new programs have been installed
since this problem occurred)

On Microsoft site a suggested fix was to use the FIXMAPI utility and to
rename several Outlook system files (such as outcmd.dat, extend.dat,
mapi32.dll etc) and reboot, then repair installation. I did this and was
still faced with the error message. I tried renaming outlook.pst and
creating a new one in case it was the PST file but the same behavior
happened. I uninstalled Office, rebooted, reinstalled and same error, so I
renamed mapi32.dll and copied the file from a subfolder of the Office 2000
CD. This worked to stop the error message and we allowed all 600+ messages
to download (so Outlook would catch up) and deleted the duplicates.

Email worked fine for a day. Now client is receiving "POP3 name server you
selected could not be found. Check your settings etc." I have checked and
double-checked the settings on his computer (they're fine) and configured
his POP accounts temporarily on my own system, which worked fine. His
Internet connection remains good and Outlook doesn't seem to have a problem
sending.

Since renaming/replacing the mapi32.dll file made some progress, it made me
wonder if there's some other corruption occurring in Windows system files,
which may not be affected by an uninstall/reinstall of Office. There are
some other odd behaviors which have started on the system as well, such as
an inability to use the built-in CD Burning in Windows, even though the
service is enabled. Easy CD Creator 5 works fine, though.

Before I go recommending a clean install (rather than the messy migration
from ME he has now), I want to make sure I've exhausted other possible
causes. Any ideas?

By the way, Norton Antivirus 2002 fully updated, tried both with incoming
email scanning enabled and disabled, system has been thoroughly scanned for
viruses and spyware removed.

Thanks,
MagGyver

 

[Patrick Reed [MVP - Outlook]]

The Norton AntiVirus Plug-in for Outlook was more than likely the cause for
the recently installed program error.

Windows Me in and of itself is messy, not to mention the hornet's nest you
add when upgrading to XP. I would honestly say wipe it and do a clean
install of XP.

That advice notwithstanding, I'd check to ensure the personal firewall isn't
enabled on the network connection (Start | Settings | Control Panel |
Network Connections). Can you try setting up Outlok Express to connect to
that POP server and see if it works?

 

[MagGyver]

Thanks for your feedback, Patrick. As it turns out, my client has
(thankfully) agreed to a clean install so I guess I'll never know what the
exact problem was, but at least he'll have a much happier computer.

I've never been fond of Outlook 2000, myself. I use Outlook XP and am
curious about 2003, but I'd never go back to 2000.

MagGyver

The Norton AntiVirus Plug-in for Outlook was more than likely the cause for
the recently installed program error.

Windows Me in and of itself is messy, not to mention the hornet's nest you
add when upgrading to XP. I would honestly say wipe it and do a clean
install of XP.

That advice notwithstanding, I'd check to ensure the personal firewall isn't
enabled on the network connection (Start | Settings | Control Panel |
Network Connections). Can you try setting up Outlok Express to connect to
that POP server and see if it works?

--
PATRICK REED [Outlook - MVP]~~~~~~
-Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP)
-Have you checked http://www.slipstick.com?
-Please post your Outlook version!

Hi all,

I have a client running XP Home and Office 2000, using Outlook 2000 SP3 for
2 POP accounts in Corporate/Workgroup mode. Somehow in the last few days
something has gone wrong and although I've uninstalled, repaired, and
tweaked this installation, I've come up with no resolution. Details below -
any assistance/feedback would be appreciated.

Client has 1 POP account configured to leave messages on server, deleting
after 10 days. This system has worked fine up until a few days ago when it
started downloading all 600+ messages again as duplicates. No settings had
been changed. A message appeared that another recently installed program was
affecting Outlook (and any other email-enabled programs) and offered to try
and fix the problem. After the repair a related message said that it was
unable to repair and and suggested restarting computer. After restarting,
Outlook continued with error message. (No new programs have been installed
since this problem occurred)

On Microsoft site a suggested fix was to use the FIXMAPI utility and to
rename several Outlook system files (such as outcmd.dat, extend.dat,
mapi32.dll etc) and reboot, then repair installation. I did this and was
still faced with the error message. I tried renaming outlook.pst and
creating a new one in case it was the PST file but the same behavior
happened. I uninstalled Office, rebooted, reinstalled and same error, so I
renamed mapi32.dll and copied the file from a subfolder of the Office 2000
CD. This worked to stop the error message and we allowed all 600+ messages
to download (so Outlook would catch up) and deleted the duplicates.

Email worked fine for a day. Now client is receiving "POP3 name server you
selected could not be found. Check your settings etc." I have checked and
double-checked the settings on his computer (they're fine) and configured
his POP accounts temporarily on my own system, which worked fine. His
Internet connection remains good and Outlook doesn't seem to have a problem
sending.

Since renaming/replacing the mapi32.dll file made some progress, it made me
wonder if there's some other corruption occurring in Windows system files,
which may not be affected by an uninstall/reinstall of Office. There are
some other odd behaviors which have started on the system as well, such as
an inability to use the built-in CD Burning in Windows, even though the
service is enabled. Easy CD Creator 5 works fine, though.

Before I go recommending a clean install (rather than the messy migration
from ME he has now), I want to make sure I've exhausted other possible
causes. Any ideas?

By the way, Norton Antivirus 2002 fully updated, tried both with incoming
email scanning enabled and disabled, system has been thoroughly scanned for
viruses and spyware removed.

Thanks,
MagGyver